Man Spent a decade making World’s First Wooden Supercar

From Forest to Finish Line: The Wooden Wonder – Splinter, the World’s First Wooden Supercar

Imagine a supercar, sleek and powerful, capable of blistering speeds. Now, imagine it crafted not from the typical carbon fiber or steel, but from wood. That’s the remarkable story of Splinter, the brainchild of Joe Harmon, who spent a decade building the world’s first wooden supercar.

A Labor of Love: Ten Years in the Making

Driven by a lifelong passion for cars and a desire to push boundaries, Harmon embarked on this ambitious project in 2010. He meticulously hand-selected wood from various sustainable sources, including ash, maple, and poplar, and spent countless hours shaping, gluing, and laminating the wooden frame.

The result? A visually stunning car with a unique, organic aesthetic. But is it just a pretty face?

Beyond Aesthetics: Performance and Controversy

Harmon claims that Splinter, despite its unconventional build, is no slouch when it comes to performance. The car boasts a Chevrolet LS7 V8 engine, paired with a six-speed manual transmission, capable of producing up to 650 horsepower. Theoretically, this translates to a 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds, putting it in the territory of high-performance sports cars.

However, claims about Splinter’s top speed of over 200 mph (321 km/h) have been met with skepticism. Experts point out the inherent challenges of wood as a car-building material:

• Weight: Wood is significantly heavier than traditional materials like carbon fiber or aluminum, impacting acceleration, handling, and overall performance.
• Strength and Durability: While wood can be surprisingly strong, it raises concerns about its ability to withstand the stresses and strains of high-speed driving.
• Safety: The fire risk associated with wood in a car is a significant concern, and experts question whether Splinter meets necessary safety regulations.

Beyond the Hype: The Future of Wooden Cars

Despite the controversy surrounding its performance claims, Splinter represents a bold feat of engineering. It pushes the boundaries of what’s possible and sparks conversations about sustainable materials in car manufacturing.

While wooden supercars might not be mainstream anytime soon, the advancements in wood composites and treatments could pave the way for lighter, stronger, and even fire-resistant wood suitable for car parts in the future.

Beyond the Blog: Exploring Further

• Research and compare the performance of other wooden cars or concept vehicles.
• Discuss the environmental impact of using wood compared to traditional car-building materials.
• Explore the potential use of other sustainable materials in car manufacturing.
• Imagine a future where cars are not just high-performance machines, but also environmentally conscious and aesthetically pleasing works of art.

Closing Thoughts:

Splinter, the wooden supercar, may not be the fastest car on the road, but it undoubtedly captures the imagination. It’s a testament to human ingenuity, a conversation starter about sustainable materials, and a reminder that sometimes, the most remarkable journeys are not about the destination, but the creative process itself.

Article Link: https://supercarblondie.com/